Today\’s Paragraphs Of The Day winner is Lauren Gambino, writing for London\’s Daily Guardian.
Ms. Gambino wins for her excellent analysis of Hillary Clinton\’s current status which, not incidentally, concurs with my own – why else would I award her today\’s honors?):
Despite the preponderance of evidence that suggests the nomination is Clinton\’s to lose, doubts are cropping up.
“Hillary Clinton is always inevitable until the moment she isn\’t,” said Republican strategist Rick Wilson. He called Clinton the “safe haven” for the Democratic party, but said speculation that other candidates were actively considering a campaign was a signal of her potential vulnerability.
“The argument for Hillary is this tautological \’We have to support Hillary because it\’s Hillary\’,” Wilson said. “But it falls apart when it starts to get confronted with a more serious candidate or candidates.”
On Monday, as Clinton shook hands with hundreds of supporters who turned up at a ski resort in New Hampshire to hear her speak, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders packed a sports arena in Los Angeles with more than 15,000 people.
Polling this week put Sanders ahead of Clinton for the first time in the crucial early primary state of New Hampshire. Then Black Lives Matter activists threatened to interrupt a Clinton campaign event, but arrived too late and were relegated to an overflow room where the candidate met them privately. Hours later, Clinton announced she would hand over that email server to investigators, after months of fighting a government investigation.
Despite all this, many strategists, including Wilson, do not see Sanders as a viable threat. Biden, though, could make for a tight primary.
“If there is no Joe Biden, it is likely Hillary Clinton,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a New York Democratic strategist and former aide to President Bill Clinton.
And if there is a Biden candidacy?
“Anything can happen here, including her not being the nominee,” Sheinkopf said.
There you go. Hillary explained just about perfectly.
And, based on those words, I\’m sure Ms. Gambino will join me in saying….
…Hillary Clinton inevitable? Believe me, she\’s evitable.
